SMARTEN UP THE FRONT END

[The smudger]

Thought I'd 'smarten up' the front end of the RT today.

The front mudguard had the wrong bolts in it at the top, instead of the normal 6mm allen bolts there were a couple of nasty looking rusty 5mm bolts that wouldn't undo, there were some equally rusty nuts on the inside.

I took the mudguard off and a right royal bodge up was revealed.....

There is a bush/spacer that the guard mounts on at the top fixing, then the 2 6mm bolts screw into 2 captive nuts that attach to the rear part of the guard. they do corrode and can be a bastard to get out, as the last attempt suggested.

Whoever did this should be shot....

This is how it was mounted on one side. Someone had clearly tried to get the snapped off bolt out by drilling, It was attached by the 'pissed' drilling last effort, the shoulder is still intact in the fork leg but it took a careful couple of hours with a sharp small punch and chisel to save the leg...




this was what I dug out of the mess....even a broken drill bit left in it!! You can make out in the background the leg is looking rough but the shoulder for the spacer/bush is still there, and its all covered up anyway...



And this is how it should look....There is a proper spacer but a 25mm s/s spacer with a 9mm o/d was easier as my local s/s bolt shop had a spacer (20p) although the original bush is 22mm so i had to grind 3mm off the new one....










New S/S bolts everywhere, it is addictive this!

















After a good clean up it definately looked a lot smarter....

 

[ebbo]

You've done a good fix there Smudge, just hope you've greased the bolts because S/Steel bolts will seize like buggery in there

 

[Kritou]

Other than repainting is there a way of getting those roughcast legs back to new bike condition?

 

[The smudger]

You've done a good fix there Smudge, just hope you've greased the bolts because S/Steel bolts will seize like buggery in there

Copaslip is my friend....

Other than repainting is there a way of getting those roughcast legs back to new bike condition?

I have done it before on other bikes and do plan to do it to this one later in the year.

I use a wire brush to get rid of the loose stuff first, then go over with some nitromoors to remove the paint completely, then wire wool or a suitable scourer, then a blow over with hammerite silver smooth rite.

They do come up well but lots of elbow grease needed!!!!

 

[chad]

tidy job , done with a remarkable amount of patience

 

[mark2jag]

just out of curiosity who bodged the feck out of it in the first place??? if you find them tell them they should be fecking shot for work like that?? Wasnt a B M double u dealer was it

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Re the painting of the legs, I wouldn't bother with the stripper, just get all the loose stuff away and spray them with your chosen paint, depending on mileage mine are done annually or bi-annually as part of the winter fettle, all good fun





Mark

 

[The smudger]

Many thanks for adding your link to your pics Mark, some splendid photos!